The clock starts at the accident
Under 49 CFR 382.303, a post-accident breath alcohol test should happen within 2 hours. If it can't, you document why, and you stop trying at 8 hours. The urine drug collection has to happen within 32 hours. Those limits are short when your driver is on the shoulder of SH-130 at 9 p.m. and the nearest clinic closed at 5.
| FMCSA post-accident test | Window |
|---|---|
| Breath alcohol test, target | 2 hours |
| Breath alcohol test, stop trying | 8 hours |
| Urine drug collection, stop trying | 32 hours |
| Window missed | Written record of why |
A mobile collector removes the drive. We come to where your driver is, set up in a truck cab, a trailer or an office, and run the breath alcohol test and the drug collection in one visit.
When FMCSA requires a test
- A fatality. Test the CDL driver, every time, citation or not.
- Bodily injury with medical treatment away from the scene. Test if the driver gets a citation for a moving violation.
- A vehicle towed for disabling damage. Test if the driver gets a citation for a moving violation.
FTA, FAA, FRA and PHMSA programs use their own criteria. Tell us which agency your program falls under and we collect to that rule. Company-policy tests after a non-DOT incident are handled the same way, on your forms and under your policy.
What happens on a call-out
- You call (832) 472-1058 with the location, the number of people and whether it is DOT or company policy.
- We give you a realistic arrival time based on where we are and the traffic.
- On site we run the breath alcohol test on an EBT, then the urine collection on a federal custody and control form, or your company's form for non-DOT.
- Specimens ship to your lab. Alcohol results print on site. Times are recorded so your file shows when each test happened.
Your driver should not eat, drink or use mouthwash while waiting for the breath test. If they need medical care, care comes first and we meet them where they are.
Paperwork you keep
You get copies of the custody and control form and the alcohol testing form, with times, so a missed window is documented the way the rule expects. If you do not have a lab, MRO or TPA set up yet, we can help you get that side in place before you need it.
Check your accident
Answer a few yes or no questions about the accident.
Questions
How fast can you get to an accident scene?
It depends on where we are and the traffic at that hour. Call the moment you know about the accident and we will give you an honest arrival time on the phone so you can plan around the 2-hour alcohol window.
What if we miss the 2-hour alcohol window?
Keep trying up to 8 hours and write down why the test was late. After 8 hours, stop and document the reason. The drug collection can still happen up to 32 hours after the accident.
Can you test a driver at the hospital?
Yes, if the driver is able and the facility allows it. Medical care comes first. We can meet the driver at the hospital or after release.
Do you test for non-DOT accidents too?
Yes. Company-policy post-accident tests follow your written policy, using rapid screens or lab-based collections on your forms.